Queen Athena

Queen Athena is an important character from Disney's animated film The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning Her speaking voice was provided by Lorelei Hill Butters, and her singing voice was provided by Andrea Robinson.

Queen Athena was the wife of King Triton, and the mother of Ariel and her 6 older sisters. She was the Queen of Atlantica, and was beloved by her family and her subjects. Queen Athena was noted for her singing talent and her love of music. Unfortunately, Athena died as a result of a run in with pirates when Ariel was very young. A statue of Athena dancing with Triton is present in Triton's courtyard. She is shown to have long red hair, green eyes, and a blue-green tail. As queen, she wore a tiara similar in form to Triton's. Ariel is said to bear a close resemblance to her.

Athena appears at the very beginning of the film. She and Triton are shown to be very much in love. She and Triton are shown to share a special song (known as "Athena's song"). One day, Athena and Triton are relaxing in a cove with their daughters and some other merpeople. Triton and Athena are celebrating their anniversary, and so Triton gives Athena a special music box that plays their song. However, pirates soon approach the cove and attack the merpeople. Most of the merpeople escape safely, but Athena leaves behind her music box. When she goes to retrieve it, she is crushed by the pirate ship and dies as a result.

Athena's death leaves Triton devastated. As a result, he bans music from the kingdom and raises his seven daughters very strictly. However, Ariel and her sisters inherited their mother's love of and talent for music. Later on, Ariel references her mother at several points. When she learns of the Catfish Club, Ariel sings a song remembering her mother and her love for music. Later, when confronting Triton over his ban of music, Ariel points out that Athena wouldn't have wanted music to be banned from the kingdom.